The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

1KHO 585: Low Tech and High Text (How to Build Your Child’s Brain with Books and Not Screens) | Doug Lemov, The Science of Reading

Sep 29, 2025
Doug Lemov, an education expert and author of 'Teach Like a Champion,' dives into the urgent need for a low-tech, high-text approach in childhood learning. He explains how screens undermine attention and promote skim-reading, while books foster deep thinking and vocabulary expansion. Highlighting the power of reading aloud, he shares strategies for improving fluency and comprehension. With insights on formative writing and outdoor reading habits, Doug offers parents practical advice to transform reading into a joyful, immersive experience.
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INSIGHT

Screens Shrink Attention; Books Build Stamina

  • Screens rewire attention: they train quick novelty-seeking and fragment reading patterns.
  • Books cultivate sustained attention, patience, and deeper gratification over time.
ADVICE

Read Aloud Every Day

  • Read aloud daily and alternate reading with your child to build fluency.
  • Keep reading aloud even after kids can read independently, including teens.
INSIGHT

Fluency’s Three Pillars And Book Vocabulary

  • Fluency has three pillars: accuracy, automaticity, and prosody.
  • Children's books expose readers to many rare words and boost vocabulary more than conversation.
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